Mooring mast



C. E. ROSENDAHL Filed Dec. 8, 1950 OH N A R D 0 3 n Um Y 2 4 L m A mm 0 2 .U 1 I I 3 9 L Patented Nov. 20, 1934 MOORING MAST Charles E. Rosendahl, United States Washington, D. C;

Application December 8, 1930, Serial No. 500,839

3 Claims.

(Granted under the act of March 3, 1883, as

amended April 30, 1928; 370 0. G. 757) My invention relates broadly to mooring masts for aircraft and more particularly to an auxiliary top-mast therefor.

An object of the invention resides in the pro- 1 vision of a mooring mast having a detachable top-mast.

Another object of the invention is to provide a top-mast for a mooring mast that may be erected at any one of several fixed positions 'l about the axis of the mooring mast.

A further object of the invention is the provision of a top-guy to be attached to the nose of the aircraft and by means of which the mooring oflicer can control the vertical height of the T aircraft above the ground.

With the above and other objects in view the invention consists in the construction, combination and arrangement of parts as will be described more fully hereinafter.

Reference is to be had to the accompanying drawing forming a part of this specification in which like reference characters indicate corresponding parts throughout the several views, and

v in which similarly supported by arms 10 and a collar 11.

The periphery of the two platforms is provided with a series of clips or cars 12 and 13 at spaced intervals therearound, the auxiliary topmast being secured to the ears as will be explained later. The ears 12 extend laterally from the platform 6, and the ears 13 are slightly inclined upwardly from the platform 9, and each is provided with a central opening, as may be seen in the drawing. The main mast is provided with the usual cup 14 for the reception of a swivel member 15 connected to the mooring cone 16 of the aircraft 17.

The auxiliary top-mast, that consists of a triangular framework 18 braced by cross members 19, is constructed preferably of a material that is light in weight so that it may be easily placed in the desired position on the main mast by man power. Suitable cars 20 and 21, likewise provided with central openings, extend from the framework, and when the top-mast is in erected position, the ears being so positioned that the openings therein align with those in the ears 12 and 13 respectively. A pin 22 is inserted in the aligned openings in the ears to firmly hold the auxiliary top-mast attached to the main mast during the mooring operation. The auxiliary mast is detachable from the main mast in order that it may be removed so as not to interfere with the aircraft as it swings in azimuth after being moored. A further reason for having the top-mast detachable is the desirability of erecting it after the mooring operation has been begun in order to avoid the danger of the aircraft overriding the mast and fouling the topmast during the preliminary mooring operation. It is to be erected on the side of the main mast opposite to that from which the aircraft is approaching.

The aircraft is held by the main mooring cable 23 and side yaw guys 24. A top guy 25 provides a means whereby during the last stages of the mooring operation, the bow of the aircraft can be held up against a down current of air or other atmospheric disturbances and against the downpull of the other mooring cables that lead from the aircraft to the ground and to the mooring mast. It also provides a means whereby the mooring oflicer can control the vertical length of the aircraft above the ground, thus materially aiding the final operation of seating the aircrafts mooring cone swivel in the mast cup. The top guy leads up to a sheave 26 attached to the upper end of the top-mast, and thence downwardly to a drum or winch 27 attached to the auxiliary mast at a point convenient to the platform 6 when the auxiliary mast is in erected position. The top guy is supported by the topmast, which when erected extends considerably above the mooring mast proper, and is made fast the bow of the aircraft during the mooring operation. At the drum the slack is taken in or the guy payed out as is necessary. When the top-mast is removed from the main mast after the mooring operation is completed, the top guy is freed from the aircraft.

It will be understood that the above description and accompanying drawing comprehend only the general and preferred embodiment of of the United States for governmental purposes without the payment to me of any royalty there- Having described my invention what I claim 1. A mooring mast for an aircraft including a main mast, platforms thereon, ears extending from the platforms, an auxiliary top-mast, ears on said top-mast, and means for detachably holding said ears together to support the top-' mast.

2. A mooring mast for an aircraft including a main mast, an auxiliary top-mast, means detop-mast for controlling the vertical position in mooring the aircraft.

CHARLES E. ROSENDAHL. 

